Author: Kerim Baran

🎙️ Argonauts Radio – Episode 9: 100+ Powerboats at the Pond!

The latest episode of San Diego Argonauts Radio is now live!

Host Jess Atkinson sits down with Vice Commodore of Power, Bill Bridge, to discuss one of the biggest events of the year at the Mission Bay Model Boat Pond: the upcoming NAMBA District 19 Powerboat Race, taking place June 12–14, 2026.

More than 100 high-performance RC powerboats are expected to converge on San Diego for three days of racing, testing, camaraderie, and excitement. Bill shares the history of powerboat racing at the pond, how he became involved with the Argonauts, and what it takes to organize an event of this scale.

Also available on Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/100-powerboats-at-the-pond-in-june-how-vc-bill-bridge/id1874110517?i=1000769445722

Among the topics discussed:

  • The evolution from nitro-powered “thunderboats” to modern gasoline-powered racers
  • Boats capable of reaching speeds approaching 60–90 mph
  • The different classes of mono hulls, catamarans, and scale-inspired race boats
  • Why Mission Bay remains one of Southern California’s premier RC boating venues
  • What visitors can expect during the June District 19 event
  • How the Argonauts’ sail and power divisions work together to support major regattas and races

Bill describes the event as an “organized circus”—and in the best possible way. Racers from across Southern California and neighboring states will bring hundreds of boats, trailers, tools, and equipment to the pond for a weekend of intense competition and fun.

Spectators Welcome

The event is free to attend and offers a fantastic opportunity for club members, families, and the public to experience RC powerboat racing up close.

Event Details

  • Event: NAMBA District 19 Heat Race #5
  • Dates: June 12–14, 2026
  • Location: Mission Bay Model Boat Pond
  • Admission: Free

Bring a chair, enjoy the sunshine, and watch some of the fastest RC boats in the region battle it out on the water.

Also in This Episode

  • AMYA President Len Boes provides a brief update on upcoming radio sailing events and the latest issue of Model Yachting magazine.
  • Jess recaps the recently completed IOM World Championship, highlighting one of the strongest performances ever by the U.S. team, with seven American skippers finishing in the top 18.
  • Upcoming Argonauts activities for June, including ODOM, Soling, IOM, Scale Division, and Power Division events.

Whether you’re a sailor, power boater, scale enthusiast, or simply curious about the hobby, this episode offers a great look at another exciting corner of the San Diego Argonauts community.

🎧 Listen now, and we’ll see you at the pond!

🏆 Bob DeBow ODOM Masters Regatta II Results (May 16th, 2026)

The second running of the Bob DeBow ODOM Masters Regatta was held at the San Diego Model Yacht Pond, continuing this new Argonauts tradition honoring one of the legends of our local RC sailing community. The regatta once again delivered a great day of competitive and fun ODOM racing.

Congratulations to all skippers who participated, and especially to our top finishers:

  1. Jess Atkinson
  2. Chris Davidson
  3. Larry Grant
  4. Tom Warren
  5. Gil Jansky

A special thank you to everyone who helped organize, set up, race direct, score, retrieve marks, and keep the event running smoothly throughout the day.

The Bob DeBow Masters series has quickly become one of the highlights of the Argonauts sailing calendar, combining competitive racing with recognition of the sailors who helped build and shape the San Diego RC sailing community.

We look forward to the next Masters event at the Pond!

📺San Diego Argonauts on CBS News

A piece of fun news 🙂

The San Diego Argonauts were featured on CBS8 San Diego today!

CBS8 story on their website:
https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/zevely-zone/san-diego-argonauts-affordable-water-sport/509-d67e58f9-79ec-4434-a3a1-ebc6330861a7

On a related note:
The CBS8 crew helped promote our STEM/Robotics initiative for high school & college students involving GPS-guided robotic buoys and autonomous marine systems. If you know any students, robotics teams, or STEM advisors who might be interested, please send them our way!

More info here:
https://www.sandiegoargonauts.org/2026/05/02/%e2%9a%93-calling-san-diego-socal-robotics-stem-students/

🎙️ San Diego Argonauts Radio – Episode 8

Episode 8 of San Diego Argonauts Radio is now live!

In this episode, host Jess Atkinson sits down with longtime model yachting leader and AMYA Hall of Fame member Bob Eger of the Sacramento Area Model Yacht Club during the Region 8 DF95 Travelers Trophy event at Bridgeway Lakes in Sacramento.

Bob shares stories from more than 50 years in radio sailing — from founding the South Bay Model Yacht Club in 1975, to helping grow Sacramento’s thriving racing scene, developing Star 45 and J-Class fleets, organizing large-scale regattas, and promoting the hobby to new generations of sailors.

Also available on Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sailing-in-sacramento-with-bob-eger-april-results/id1874110517?i=1000767152260

The conversation also highlights Sacramento’s welcoming club culture, fleet-building programs, Thursday “Luffers” training sessions, and upcoming Sail Week and regional championship events.

The episode also covers:

  • The recent DF95 Travelers Trophy event in Sacramento
  • Growth of Star 45 and J-Class fleets on the West Coast
  • Upcoming AMYA and regional regattas
  • April race results from the San Diego Argonauts pond
  • Team Challenge and Bob DeBow Trophy upcoming events
  • Reflections on the passing of renowned IOM designer Ian Vickers

The Sacramento Travelers Trophy event was especially strong for the San Diego Argonauts, with club members claiming 5 of the top 6 finishing positions in a 14-boat fleet — a tremendous showing for the club on the road.

Whether you’re an experienced racer, a scale boating enthusiast, or simply curious about RC sailing, Episode 8 offers a great mix of history, competition, club culture, and the people helping keep model yachting thriving across California.

⚓ Age of Sail Schooner Day (May 9, 2026)

The San Diego Argonauts Scale Division held a beautiful “Age of Sail” gathering at the Mission Bay Model Boat Pond on May 9th, featuring an impressive collection of classic schooners and traditional sailing vessels.

Members brought out a variety of finely crafted scale sailboats inspired by the great Age of Sail era — from elegant schooners to detailed tall ship models — creating a scene that looked like a miniature historic harbor brought to life.

The combination of steady winds, detailed craftsmanship, and camaraderie made for a memorable day at the pond. Spectators and fellow members enjoyed watching the graceful sailing characteristics of these classic vessels as they navigated the water under full sail.

A special thank you to everyone who participated, helped organize the event, and shared their beautiful boats with the club and visitors.

Photo Gallery & Videos Below

Interested in scale model boating or RC sailing?

Come visit the San Diego Argonauts at the Mission Bay Model Boat Pond and learn more about our Sail, Scale, and Power divisions.

🔗 Membership information and upcoming events can be found on this page.

🏆 DF95 Region 8 Travelers Trophy Brings Great Racing & Camaraderie to Sacramento

The San Diego Argonauts had an outstanding showing at the May 2–3, 2026 Region 8 Dragon Flight 95 Travel Trophy Regatta at Bridgeway Lakes in Sacramento, hosted by the Sacramento Model Yacht Club (SMYC).

In a competitive 14-boat fleet and breezy Northern California conditions, Argonauts sailors captured 4 of the top 5 finishing positions.

Leading the charge was Jess Atkinson with a 1st place finish, followed by Len Bose in 2nd, George Pedrick in 3rd, Dennis Rogers in 4th, and Chris Staiger in 5th.

The regatta featured steady 10–15 knot winds, fast racing, and the always-appreciated camaraderie that makes the DF95 Travel Trophy series such a favorite among skippers throughout Region 8.

In addition to the racing, the weekend highlighted everything that makes the Travel Trophy series special — road trips with fellow sailors, reconnecting with friends from other clubs, sharing stories over Saturday dinner, and learning how different clubs organize and run their events. Another fantastic weekend of competitive RC sailing, strong Argonauts results, and great camaraderie throughout Region 8.

🎙️ Argonauts Radio – Episode 7: Pacific Northwest Ponds: Oregon, Washington, Idaho & Beyond

In this latest episode of San Diego Argonauts Radio, Commodore Jess Atkinson takes us on a tour of the Pacific Northwest RC sailing scene—highlighting some of the most active clubs, unique sailing venues, and passionate communities from Oregon to Washington to Idaho, and even up to Salt Spring Island.

Also available on Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pacific-northwest-ponds-oregon-washington-idaho-salt/id1874110517?i=1000763767536

From the diverse fleets of the Rose City Model Yacht Club in Portland, to the strong IOM and DF95 presence in Seattle and Olympia, and the scenic sailing spots like Seafarers Memorial Park in Anacortes, this episode is packed with insights for anyone looking to travel, explore, or connect with other RC sailors.

You’ll also hear stories of legendary regattas like the Hood River Carnage, a look into grassroots boat-building culture (including T37 workshops at the Wooden Boat Museum), and tips on how to use the AMYA website to find clubs, regattas, and class info anywhere in the country.

The episode also wraps with updates on the DF95 Traveler Series stop in Sacramento, the IOM World Championships in the UK, and the always-popular Battle in Seattle.

Whether you’re a seasoned racer or just getting into RC sailing, this episode is a great reminder: there’s a whole world of ponds—and great people—waiting out there.

🚩Fleet Captains Step Up to Support Weekend Racing

In line with our recent Board and Member meeting discussions, our Commodore Jess Atkinson has encouraged members to step up into a new volunteer role—Fleet Captains—for each of our four sailboat classes.

Here are the Fleet Captains by class:

IOM: Dennis Rogers
DF95: Jack Calafato
ODOM: Keith Sternal
Soling 50: Ben Reeves

These Fleet Captains will help coordinate the setup and breakdown of the regatta course during point series weekends, aligned with the order of racing. The first fleet of the day will take the lead on setting the course and getting the skiff out on the water, while the final fleet will handle course breakdown and help clean and secure the skiff.

In addition, Fleet Captains are responsible for coordinating help and arranging backups or replacements as needed—making sure each weekend runs smoothly even if schedules shift.

This new system kicks off on May 9th with the ODOM & Soling race day.

This is a simple but important step toward keeping our race days organized and efficient—and a great example of the Argonauts community pitching in to support one another.

Thank you to everyone who stepped up!

🥇 Points: IOMs & DF95s (April 25th, 2026) + A Farewell & Touch of Art

This weekend’s Points Races at the Pond delivered one of those classic, tricky sailing days. (Results below)

The wind kept everyone on their toes with big, unpredictable lulls & shifts—especially in the second half of the day. The pin end became increasingly favored, and those who figured out the sneaky pin-end starts found themselves quietly climbing the leaderboard. Steve’s videos are below. Thank you, Steve, we love your videos even without the commentary!

But beyond the racing, the day carried a deeper emotional note. We gathered to send off our dear friend Rich Rogers, who is heading to Oregon to be closer to family.

Richie has been a constant source of positivity, encouragement, and humor at the pond, always quick with a smile, a joke, or an encouraging word from the sidelines. The farewell was simple, heartfelt, and yes… a bit emotional. Richie will be truly missed.

And in one of those rare special moments, a couple of young visitors spent time by the pond and created a beautiful oil painting capturing the RC sailing action and the spirit of the day.

Days like this remind us, it’s not just about the racing. It’s about the people, the stories, and the moments in between.

Results & Videos below:

Videos:

🎙️ Argonauts Radio – Episode 6: History & Community of RC Sailing in California

A Deep Dive into the History & Community of RC Sailing in California

In this episode of San Diego Argonauts Radio, Commodore Jess Atkinson takes the mic solo to deliver a rich, insider tour of RC sailing across California. Drawing on decades of experience and deep connections throughout the community, Jess offers a deep-dive perspective on the people, ponds, and clubs that shape the Region 8 sailing scene.

The episode takes listeners on a journey up the coast—from San Diego to Northern California—highlighting the diversity of clubs, racing styles, and fleets. From tight, shifty local ponds to world-class venues, Jess breaks down what makes each location unique, how different classes demand different techniques, and how sailors stay connected through shared events, competition, and long-standing relationships.

Also available on Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exploring-californias-region-8-ponds-regatta-results/id1874110517?i=1000761135006

One listener on Spotify captured the spirit of it perfectly:
“So cool how plugged in you are with the other chapters! You should do a big episode with some other commodores! Kinda like the meeting of the families in The Godfather.”

We couldn’t agree more—this episode feels exactly like that: a behind-the-scenes look at a tightly connected network of clubs and personalities that together form the backbone of RC sailing in California and beyond.

Jess also covers major international and domestic racing & clinic highlights, including standout U.S. performances at the British Nationals and a preview of the upcoming IOM World Championships.

Closer to home, the episode wraps with a full recap of the 2026 DF95 Region 8 Championship at the San Diego Model Boat Pond—an outstanding weekend of racing, great conditions, and classic Argonauts hospitality, made possible by a dedicated group of volunteers and competitors from across the country.

Whether you’re a seasoned racer or just discovering RC sailing, Episode 6 of the Argonauts Raido is a must-listen—a blend of history, storytelling, and competitive insight that captures what makes this community so special.